as in altercation
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
like any couple, they have their spats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to bicker
to express different opinions about something often angrily
we tend to spat over money more than anything else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spat
Rana Wehbe Watson, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
The addictive drug, precursors to which are mostly produced in China and Mexico, has led to tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year in the U.S.
The subsequent tit-for-tat trade spat saw duties skyrocketing over 100% on exports from both countries.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 13 May 2025
Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Noun
When the network lost its broadcast license in 2020 in a political spat, the group was spared the chopping block amid company layoffs.
—Rana Wehbe Watson, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
The addictive drug, precursors to which are mostly produced in China and Mexico, has led to tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year in the U.S.
The subsequent tit-for-tat trade spat saw duties skyrocketing over 100% on exports from both countries.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 13 May 2025
Verb
The teenager first asked the hotel to forgive him, the lawsuit said, but soon flew into a rage, screaming that the hotel was antisemitic and that its employees spat in people’s food.
—Liam Stack, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2023
South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for spat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spat
Noun
-
Jaques said officers at 7:49 a.m. on Sunday received a complaint from a woman who reported that someone was following her vehicle while waving a gun following an altercation at a local gas station.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 May 2025
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The shooting stemmed from an altercation during a private Memorial Day weekend gathering on a charter boat in Little River, a community of about 11,000 people situated along the Intracoastal Waterway near the North Carolina state line, police said.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
Verb
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In the film, Lawrence and her co-star Robert Pattinson proved worthy adversaries, who bicker and screw their way into emotional oblivion in Ramsay’s tense portrait of a woman undone.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
17 May 2025
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Protesters shouted from the back of the room and lawmakers bickered.—
Eric Lipton,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Noun
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The defense attorney suggested that Cassie’s rape allegation stemmed from a complicated quarrel playing out as their decade-plus relationship came to an end.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
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Other great powers will have their territorial goals and quarrels and this does not normally concern you.—
Frank Lavin,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Verb
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In a recent interview with The Bee, Weber criticized new efforts — including from members of her own party — to speed up California’s vote count, arguing elections officials already prioritize security and voter access.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2025
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His attorneys are expected to renew their motion to terminate the deportation proceedings on Thursday, arguing the government has engaged in egregious misconduct.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
Noun
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Those CBAs also require that should there be a dispute as to whether the league, a club, a union, or a player abided by their obligations under the CBA, such dispute be settled through a confidential arbitration process.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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The Supreme Court on May 27 declined to get involved in a dispute about mining on land sacred to the San Carlos Apache Tribe, a case that religious groups backed to test the scope of a 1993 federal law protecting religious freedom.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Moving to Italy was a big jump and then moving here was another big jump: from Serie B to a big club that fights in European competition.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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The current plan would lift the SALT cap from $10,000 to $30,000, but a handful of blue-state Republicans have been fighting to raise the cap higher.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
21 May 2025
Noun
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However, California is far from the only state that saw its girls' track and field championships overshadowed by trans athlete controversy.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2025
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Salgado’s pictures were also freighted with their fair share of controversy.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Rollins followed him there and the two brawled on top of the cage.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Becky and Lyra inevitably brawled, and Lyra got the better of Lynch.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spat. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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